Keeper for idler rolls

ABSTRACT

Two embodiments of a keeper for retaining the ends of a pair of idler rolls within upwardly opening apertures in a bracket having a pair of outwardly extending ears are disclosed; both embodiments are executed in a malleable metal that retains a set once it has been manipulated into locking engagement with the ears on the bracket. The first embodiment of the keeper comprises two interlocking metal members of substantially similar configuration, each member having a body with a shallow crease, a leg with an aperture defined therein depending from one end of the body, and a tab projecting from the opposite end thereof. The members are interlocked with one another by inserting the tabs into the apertures in the opposing member. The second embodiment of the keeper comprises a unitary member having a body with pivotable legs at opposite ends and depending flanges at opposite sides thereof. The legs have apertures defined therein so that the keeper can be secured in locking engagement with the ears on the bracket. A simple manual tool is employed to facilitate the installation of the second embodiment of the keeper.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 620,771, filed Oct. 8, 1975,now U.S. Pat. No. 4,048,207, which is a division of application Ser. No.446,009, filed Feb. 25, 1974, and now U.S. Pat. No. 3,934,711.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to keepers for idler rolls which lockthe ends of a pair of adjacent rolls in fixed position within a bracket.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The desirability of providing a sturdy, inexpensive, easily insertableand removable device for retaining idler rolls in fixed position withina bracket has long been recognized. Several attempts have been made torealize these goals with varying degrees of success. One of the mostcommon approaches has been to provide an upwardly opening U-shaped seatto receive the end of the idler roll, aligned apertures in the upperends of the arms of the seat, and a wedge member of sufficient length tospan the opening and press against the end of the idler roll. Onerepresentative wedge configuration is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.2,391,272, granted Dec. 18, 1945 to David Rose. The wedges, however,even when irmly driven into place, exhibit a tendency to work loose fromthe apertures as the idler rolls are transported to a job site.

Another common approach has been to provide a resilient spring clip thatis secured to the bracket and fits over the end cap of the idler roll tocapture the roll within an aperture in the bracket. One representativeclip configuration is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,157,272, granted Nov.17, 1964, to James Bay.

The strength of such resilient clips, however, which make contact withthe roll over a small area is sorely limited, so that the vibrationsencountered during transport of an idler roll assembly to a job site maycause the clip to spring out of locking position; at the least, the clipmay be deformed and its strength and effectiveness diminished. Also, tworesilient clips are required for each idler roll, i.e., one clip foreach end of the roll, and the insertion of a pair of clips into theclosely spaced supports of an interior bracket of an idler roll set mayprove to be difficult to accomplish. Similarly, two wedges are normallyutilized for each idler roll, and the accurate insertion of the wedgeswithin the confines of an interior bracket may also prove to be adifficult task.

Another common, and probably more successful, attempt to realize thegoals set forth above has been to provide a rigid sheet metal cliphaving a planar body and a pair of depending legs. Short, downwardlyextending flanges are formed at opposite sides of the body. Ears or tabsare struck in the depending legs, and cooperating abutments are formedin the bracket proximate to its upper end. The ends of the adjacentrolls are positioned in upwardly opening apertures or slots in thesidewalls of the support posts. Then the clip is forced downwardly overthe ends of the idler rolls until the ears and abutments interengage tolock the rolls in fixed position within the post. The flanges pressdownwardly against the idler rolls. A representative rigid clipconfiguration is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,843,432, granted on July15, 1958 to A. J. Kindig.

While one rigid clip can hold a pair of rolls in fixed position, and therigid clip is thus well suited for use with the interior brackets on anin-line, idler roll assembly, commonly used to support a troughingconveyor, the clip disclosed in the Kindig patent necessitates themodification of existing brackets to form appropriate abutments thereon,or alternatively, the manufacture of specially designed brackets havingsuch abutments. Furthermore, the tabs struck in the depending legs arerelatively small in size and limited in strength, so that upwardlydirected forces caused by the vibration of the rolls during transportmay shear off the tabs and permit the rolls to "bounce" out of thebracket.

SUMMARY

Thus, with the defects of known securing devices for idler rolls clearlyin mind, the instant invention contemplates two embodiments ofinexpensive, interlocking metal keepers that can positively retainadjacent rolls in fixed position, will not work free even duringtransport to the job site, and are compatible with many existingbrackets. The simple metal pieces that form the keepers can be installedwithin limited clearances between the supports of a central bracket, andyet form sturdy keepers that effectively resist all upwardly directedforces but can be removed by simple manual tools preparatory to thereplacement or repair of the idler rolls. The characteristics of themetal from which the pieces are fabricated improve significantly theperformance of the two keeper embodiments.

Other desirable objectives achieved by the unique keepers will becomereadily apparent from the ensuing description when construed in harmonywith the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view, on a reduced scale, of an idler rollset for a conveyor;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a first embodiment of a keeperconstructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, suchview being taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1 and in the directionindicated;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the belt, end cap, bracketand keeper of FIG. 2, such view being taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2and in the direction indicated;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective of the first embodiment of the keeper;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a second embodiment of a keeperconstructed in accordance with the principles of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the bracket, end cap and keeper ofFIG. 5, such view being taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 5 and in thedirection indicated;

FIG. 7 is a persective view of the second embodiment of the keeper;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a tool employed to assist in theinstallation of the second embodiment of the keeper;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the tool of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a fragment of the tool and thekeeper.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts an idler roll set withinwhich the keepers of the instant invention find particular utility. Theupper run of a conveyor 10 is entrained over the idler roll set todefine a troughing conveyor. The idler roll set comprises a right endbracket 12, a first interior bracket 14, a second interior bracket 16,and a left hand end bracket 18. An angle 20 extends between the endbrackets and supports the interior brackets 14 and 16. Bolts 22 passingthrough the longitudinal braces 24 at the base of end brackets 12 and 18are employed to secure the idler roll set in fixed position.

Interior bracket 14 comprises a first support 14a and a second support14b interconnected by a continuous loop (not shown). Interior bracket 16also comprises a first support 16a, a second support 16b, and acontinuous loop 16c, as also shown in FIG. 3, for support 16 is themirror-image of support 14. The supports are angularly disposed relativeto one another to accommodate rolls held at various angular orientationsto achieve troughing of belt 10. As indicated by the dotted lines inFIG. 2, an upwardly opening aperture 16d is defined at the upper end ofsupports 16a, and 16b; a similar aperture is defined at the upper end ofsupports 14a and 14b. The apertures continue on to interrupt the lateralrun of the loops, such as loop 16c, so that the aperture extendslaterally from support to support. Laterally extending ears 16e, 16fthat project outwardly from each side of the brackets 14, 16 are alsovisible in FIG. 2. The cooperation between such ears and bothembodiments of the keeper is described hereinafter.

The dimensions of the apertures are chosen to be slightly larger thanthe radial dimensions of te support surfaces (see FIG. 2) ofmulti-purpose end caps of conventional design secured to opposite endsof a central shaft passing laterally through the idler rolls, so thatthe surfaces 26 can easily be inserted into the aperture and follow thecontour of its walls. A hexagonal collar 28 is situated on each end capso that the idler roll cannot be forced laterally out of the apertureswithin which surfaces 26 are seated.

One end of a first canted idler roll, or wing roll, 30 is seated in anaperture in end bracket 18 and the opposite end is seated in an aperturein support 16a of interior bracket 16. The outer end of roll 30 issecured in position in a conventional fashion. One end of second idlerroll 32, which extends laterally between the wing rolls, is seated in anaperture in support 16b and the opposite end of roll 32 is seated in anaperture in support 14b of bracket 14. The inner end of a second cantedidler roll, or wing roll, 34 is seated in an aperture in end bracket 12.Conventional means are used to secure the outer end of roll 34 withinthe aperture in bracket 12. Since rolls 30 and 34 are mounted at anacute angle to the plane passing laterally through roll 32, belt 10assumes a concave configuration.

FIGS. 2-4 reveal a keeper, indicated generally by reference numeral 36,constructed in accordance with the principles of the instant invention.Keeper 36 comprises a first member 38 and a second member 40 possessinga subtantially similar configuration. First member 38 has a shallow,creased body with a depending leg 42 having a first rectangular aperture44 formed in its central portion. A second rectangular aperture 46 ofslightly smaller dimensions is formed in the body of member 38 inproximity to the juncture of the body and leg 42. A tab 48 of step-likeconfiguration having a short vertical run and a longer horizontal run issituated at the free end of the body of member 38. The extent of thevertical run must exceed the thickness of the body of member 40.

Second member 40 has a shallow, creased body with a depending leg 50having a first rectangular aperture 52 formed therein. A secondrectangular aperture 54 of smaller dimensions is formed in the body ofmember 40 in proximity to the juncture of the body and leg 50. A tab 56projects outwardly from the free end of the body of member 40.

After rolls 30, 32 and 34 have been seated in the appropriate aperturesin brackets 12, 14, 16 and 18, keeper 36 is assembled in the followingmanner. The application of keeper 36 to bracket 16 is deemed to beexemplary. Initially, member 40 is positioned in operative relationshipto the supports of each interior bracket, such as bracket 16, so thatear 16f passes through aperture 52 in leg 50. Then, tab 48 is insertedinto aperture 54 so that its horizontal tongue extends under the body ofmember 40 and toward its juncture with leg 50. Lastly, member 38 is bentdownwardly until ear 16e on bracket 16 passes through aperture 44 in leg42 and tab 56 projects outwardly through second aperture 46 in member38. Since the bodies of members 38 and 40 are creased at the samelocation, and are similarly shaped, the two members are interlockedtogether in an overlapping fashion which enhances the strength andeffectiveness of keeper 36. The interaction of the interlocking andoverlapping members 38, 40 successfully resists the upward movement ofthe idler rolls during transport of the idler roll set to a job site aswell as during operation of the idler rolls. Additionally, keeper 36 isfabricated from a malleable metal, such as steel, that takes a set anddoes not exhibit any resilience characteristic in marked contrast toconventional keepers which have been fabricated as sheet metalstampings, such sheet metal being of light gauge and normally exhibitinga resilience characteristic that resists taking a set, once deformed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT

A second embodiment of a keeper constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the instant invention is shown in FIGS. 5-7 and 10, suchkeeper being indicated generally by reference numeral 58. Keeper 58 is aunitary member comprising a body 60 having a pair of legs 62, 64, oneleg disposed at each end thereof. An aperture 66 is formed in leg 62,while an identical aperture 68 is formed in leg 64. Flanges 70 and 72extend downwardly, from opposite edges of body 60, and hemisphericalcut-outs 74 are removed from the lower ends of the flanges. The flangesenable the keeper to be seated securely in locking engagement with apair of idler rolls, even though the rolls may be canted relative to oneanother. Openings 76 and 78 are formed in trough body 60.

The manner in which keeper 58 is installed is clearly shown in FIG. 6.Leg 66 is bent downwardly at right angles to body 60 so that ear 16e canproject through aperture 66 and lock one leg of the keeper in fixedposition as indicated by the directional arrow. The cut-outs 74 followthe contour of support surface 26 on the end cap secured to the centralshaft of roller 32, and the end cap is seated within the upwardlyopening aperture 16d in support 16b. Lastly, leg 68 is bent downwardlyfrom its normal attitude parallel to body 60 to a position at rightangles to body 60 so that ear 16f can project through aperture 68 andlock the second leg of the keeper in fixed position. The normal attitudeis shown in dotted outline in FIG. 6, while the locking position isshown in solid outline.

While keeper 58 can be installed with conventional tools, the uniquetool 80, shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 has proven to be a superior implementfor this purpose. Tool 80 comprises an elongated handle 82 with aU-shaped cavity 84 at its forward end; an L-shaped member including ahorizontal arm 86 and a vertically extending finger 88 is secured withinthe cavity by pin 90. A lug 92 is joined to the handle 82 near itsforward end, and a spring 94 normally maintains a predetermined angularrelationship between finger 86 and lug 92. The lower end of finger 88gradually tapers down to a size that can be inserted into openings 76,78 in keeper 58.

FIG. 10 depicts the manner in which tool 80 is used to install keeper58. Since spring 94 biases finger 88 away from lug 92, there is normallysufficient clearance for the tool to be positioned over the corner ofthe keeper so that finger 88 can be inserted into, and anchored within,opening 76. Openings 76, 78, in effect, provide fulcrum points for therotational movement of tool 80. When handle 82 is rotated in a clockwisefashion, lug 92 presses against the lower end of leg 62 below aperture66 and forces leg 62 into a vertical orientation in which ear 16eextends through aperture 66. Tool 80 is then removed from opening 76 andis inserted into opening 78, so that the same procedure can be followedin bending leg 64 into a vertical orientation to lock the keeper ontothe bracket.

As previously noted, keeper 58, as well as keeper 36, are fabricatedfrom a malleable metal, such as steel, that takes a set and does notexhibit any resilience characteristic. Accordingly, the keeper can beremoved from its locking engagement with ears 16e, 16f and reused, solong as the repeated bending of the legs does not set up stresses in thehinge line defined between the legs and the body that exceed the elasticlimit of the particular malleable metal from which the keepers arefabricated. Obviously, simple manual tools may be used to install, orremove, both embodiments of the keeper from its locking engagement withthe ears on the brackets.

The structural configurations of the instant one and two piece keepers,and the functional advantages attributable thereto, are susceptible ofminor changes and modifications which fall within the inventive scope ofthis application. Consequently, it is submitted that the appended claimsshould not be severely limited to their literal terms, but should beaccorded an interpretation commensurate with the technical advance inthe useful arts and sciences to which this invention appertains.

I claim:
 1. In combination, a keeper for use with an idler roll set anda manual tool for installing the keeper,1. said keeper comprising:(a) aplanar body member having a first leg formed at one end thereof and asecond leg formed at the opposite end thereof, (b) said first leg havinga first aperture defined therein and said second leg having a secondaperture defined therein, (c) said first aperture in said first legadapted to be forced over a first projection on a bracket and saidsecond aperture in said second leg adapted to be forced over a secondprojection on a bracket, (d) a first flange formed at one lateral sideof the body member and a second flange formed at the opposite sidethereof, said flanges adapted to bear against a pair of idler rolls, (e)the planar body of said keeper being interrupted by a plurality ofopenings, (f) said keeper being executed in a malleable metal that takesa set and lacks any significant resilience characteristic,
 2. 2. saidtool comprising:(a) an elongated handle that terminates in a cavity atits forward end, (b) a lug joined to the handle, (c) an L-shaped memberincluding a horizontally extending arm and a vertically extendingfinger, (d) a pin extending across said cavity and through said arm ofthe L-shaped member to secure one end of said member within the cavityof said handle, (e) said handles and lug being rotatable relative tosaid pin, (f) said finger being insertable into the openings in theplanar body of the keeper so that said handle of the tool can be rotatedto press the lug against each leg of said keeper until each aperture isforced over the projections on the bracket.
 2. The combination of keeperand manual tool therefor as defined in claim 1 wherein said tool furthercomprises resilient means interposed between the L-shaped member and thehandle, said resilient means biasing the finger away from the lug sothat the tool can be positioned over the juncture of the keeper body andleg.
 3. The combination of keeper and manual tool therefor as defined inclaim 1 wherein said finger gradually tapers to a size smaller than thesize of the openings in said keeper.
 4. In combination, a keeper for usewith an idler roll set and a manual tool for installing the keeper;a.said keeper comprising:(i) a body member having a first leg formed atone end thereof and a second leg formed at the opposite end thereof;(ii) said first leg having a first aperture defined therein and saidsecond leg having a second aperture defined therein; (iii) said firstapeture in said first leg adapted to be disposed over a first projectionon a bracket of the idler roll set and said second aperture in saidsecond leg adapted to be disposed over a second projection on thebracket; and (iv) said keeper being executed in a malleable metal thattakes a set and lacks any significant resilience characteristic. b. saidtool comprising:(i) a handle; (ii) first means carried by said handlefor co-operation with a leg of said keeper; and (iii) second meanscarried by said handle for co-operation with said keeper such that assaid handle is moved with respect to said keeper, and said abutmentmeans co-operates with said leg of said keeper, said leg is bent withrespect to said body until the aperture in said leg moves into itsposition disposed over its respective projection on the bracket.
 5. Thecombination of claim 4, wherein:a. said body of said keeper isinterrupted by at least one opening; and b. said second means carried bysaid handle is formed to co-operate with said opening.
 6. Thecombination of claim 5, wherein:a. said body of said keeper isinterrupted by a pair of openings, one opening being disposed proximatesaid first leg and the other opening being disposed proximate saidsecond leg; and b. said second means carried by said handle is formed toco-operate with either of said openings.
 7. The combination of claim 4,wherein said first means is a lug carried by said handle.
 8. Thecombination of claim 4, wherein said second means is a finger carried bysaid handle.
 9. The combination of claim 6, wherein said first means isa lug carried by said handle and said second means is a finger carriedby said handle and formed for insertion in either of said openings. 10.The combination of claim 4, wherein said body member is substantiallyplanar.
 11. The combination of claim 4, wherein:a. first flange meansare formed at one lateral side of said body member; and b. second flangemeans are formed at the opposite lateral side of said body member; c.said flanges being formed to co-operate with predetermined portions of apair of idler rolls when disposed in the bracket of the idler roll set.